Girls gathered on Sunday March 16 at Girl AGain to hear American Girl mystery book author Laurie Calkhoven read from her newly published book, The Traveler’s Tricks, and to autograph copies. The attentive audience also learned how Laurie researched the period of 1812 to be able to write authentically about stagecoach travel, and how she works with American Girl Publishing to create stories that are page-turners. A number of girls were aspiring authors themselves and asked Laurie questions about her writing process.

Our Yes She Can volunteers helped to set up the room, arranged the food, greeted guests, took photos, sold raffle tickets, and helped to make sales in the boutique.

Before the reading began one savvy mom came into the boutique to shop for her daughters before the rush. Many others came after the reading to buy outfits, dolls, furniture, and accessories. Surprisingly, no one bought one of the new Caroline Abbott dolls (the character featured in The Traveler’s Tricks). In fact, only one historic doll was purchased, whereas most of the “girls of today” (aka My American Girl) were grabbed up. One lucky girl took home Chrissa, a girl of the year from 2009. Since she was only available for one year there are not many of her available. Chrissa was a girl who was bullied in her new elementary school. Another shopper with a good eye took home a Pleasant Company Sugarplum Fairy ballet costume, a rare item.

All the parents were delighted with Girl AGain, and as they learned about our mission, they were even more impressed.

On Sunday March 16, American Girl Mystery Author Laurie Calkhoven will be at Girl AGain to read from her new American Girl book The Traveler’s Tricks and autograph your copy. Join us for complimentary bagels, muffins, (GF available), fruit and juice, listen to a good mystery and meet other girls who love reading too. It’s FREE! Register now.

THE TRAVELER’S TRICKS

Caroline Abbott, a 10 year old girl in 1812, is the newest historical character introduced by American Girl. Caroline has an important package to deliver for her father in the big city of Albany. That means a three-day stagecoach trip with her friend Rhonda! The other travelers, including a charming magician and a beautiful young woman with a sad past, fascinate the girls. But when Caroline’s precious package goes missing, she realizes the culprit must be a fellow passenger. Will she unmask the thief in time, or will her promise to Papa be impossible to keep?

Laurie Calkhoven has traveled by plane, train, car, bus, subway, river raft, and bicycle, but never by stagecoach. She grew up in New Jersey where her earliest passions were reading and writing. Every summer her family drove all the way from New Jersey to Iowa, and she would while away the hours in the backseat by making up stories about the people and places she passed along the way. Today she lives in New York City where she makes up stories for a living. In addition to THE TRAVELER’S TRICKS, she has written four novels in American Girl’s Innerstar University series, including The New Girl and Project Friendship.

Girl AGain is located at 157 South Central Avenue Hartsdale NY 10530 (inside Sweet Heaven Spa)

Girl AGain is operated by Yes She Can Inc., a non-profit dedicated to developing job skills and employment opportunities for young women with autism spectrum disorders.

My daughter is a very loyal customer of American Girl. She has 7 dolls plus their outfits, furniture and accessories. For example, one doll has a horse and when she is ready to ride she is dressed in a red jacket, white jodhpurs, black boots and a riding helmet. Another doll likes to go camping so she has a large platform tent. Another one likes to go skiing, and has the entire ski outfit, plus skis, polls and boots. After she broke her leg and got a cast put on, she got wheeled around in a wheel chair.

It has been my daughter’s dream to work at her favorite store, American Girl. (Actually it is her second choice since her real ambition is to sing at the Disney World Magic Kingdom performance on the stage at the castle). So, our first business under my new non-profit will be an American Girl resale shop. This has been something I had been thinking about for 5 years.

From a demand side, I know this brand has loyal customers (ages 3 to 12) and that since the price points of the new merchandise are relatively high, there is demand for more affordable but authentic merchandise. From the supply side, there are 80,000 to 100,000 results on eBay on any given day for “American Girl”, let alone Craig’s List. Then there are attics and basements all over the US where college girls who have left home have their stash.

The beauty of this business concept is in the employment opportunities. There are so many jobs that need to be done. “Gently used” merchandise needs to be cleaned or repaired; the doll clothes and furniture need to be tagged by doll (Samantha’s dress, Molly’s bed, Kaya’s horse); merchandise needs to be priced; outfits need to be put on hangers. Inventory needs to be documented. Store displays need to be created. Customer data needs to be collected and organized. And then we need enthusiastic sales people who can demonstrate (aka play) with the product.

There are may job skills that can be taught, along with workplace social skills, and these can be transferable to other retail settings. One day, after beginning her career at our resale shop, our employees could move on to work at The Gap, Claire’s or Build-A-Bear (or any other retailer).

Given that my employees won’t be the most efficient workers, our resale business will have even tighter margins. That means I need to find space with really low overhead. Retail lease space in Westchester County is going for something like $40 a square foot. So for for a very small shop of 500 square feet that means a rent of $20,000! After talking to lots of real estate brokers, I got a great tip. One broker had just leased 3000 square feet for a spa for girls (yes, every 9 year old needs a good facial and mani-pedi). He suggested I talk with the owner of the new business and see if she had any suggestions.

The owners of Sweet Heaven Spa loved my concept and had a tiny 125 square foot room they would rent to me. They saw the synergy between our businesses and appreciated the mission of our venture. They want to open the day after Thanksgiving!

Today I started working on my certificate of incorporation as a not-for-profit corporation. I don’t speak legal but I thought I could fill out the form and file it myself, saving $350. (I need to be very efficient on how I spend money, since I don’t have any.) But then I got to the last question about seeking tax exempt status. Call in the lawyers (still looking for pro bono).

It will get done, but if you wish to donate gently used American Girl dolls, clothes, furniture, accessories, books, and original boxes, you can still do that and I will send you a receipt for your tax filings once I get the corporation ID, I will also pay the cost of shipping if you make an in-kind donation.